Diary of a Country Priest
| Diary of a Country Priest | |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | Robert Bresson |
| Produced by |
Léon Carré Robert Sussfeld |
| Written by | Robert Bresson |
| Based on |
The Diary of a Country Priest 1936 novel by Georges Bernanos |
| Starring |
Claude Laydu Jean Riveyre André Guibert |
| Music by | Jean-Jacques Grünenwald |
| Cinematography | Léonce-Henri Burel |
| Edited by | Paulette Robert |
| Distributed by | Brandon Films Inc. |
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Release date
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Running time
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115 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Diary of a Country Priest (French: Journal d'un curé de campagne) is a 1951 French film written and directed by Robert Bresson, and starring Claude Laydu. It was closely based on the novel of the same name by Georges Bernanos. Published in 1936, the novel received the Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française. It tells the story of a young, sickly priest, who has been assigned to his first parish, a village in northern France.
Diary of a Country Priest was lauded for Laydu's debut performance, which has been called one of the greatest in the history of cinema; the film won numerous awards, including the Grand Prize at the Venice International Film Festival, and the Prix Louis Delluc.
A young priest arrives at Ambricourt, his new parish. He is not welcome. The girls of the catechism class laugh at him in a prank, whereby only one of them pretends to know the Scriptural basis of the Eucharist so that the rest of them can laugh at their private conversation. His colleagues criticize his diet of bread and wine, and his ascetic lifestyle. Concerned about Chantal, the daughter of the Countess, the priest visits the Countess at the family chateau, and appears to help her resume communion with God after a period of doubt. The Countess dies during the following night, and her daughter spreads false rumors that the priest's harsh words had tormented her to death. Refusing confession, Chantal had previously spoken to the priest about her hatred of her parents.
The older priest from Torcy talks to his younger colleague about his poor diet and lack of prayer, but the younger man seems unable to make changes. After his health worsens, the young priest goes to the city to visit a doctor, who diagnoses him with stomach cancer. The priest goes for refuge to a former colleague, who has lapsed and now works as an apothecary, while living with a woman outside wedlock. The priest dies in the house of his colleague after being absolved by him.
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